Getting Under Way

Paint firms teach about VOCs

New Jersey-based Interlux and Awlgrip hosted two seminars in Annapolis in May to brief Maryland boatyards on new air quality regulations for Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) that went into effect in the state on Jan. 1.

The new regulations affect many marinas and owners as Maryland will make some commonly used paints and coatings obsolete. New rules will impose greater liability upon yards where coating operations are permitted, including additional record keeping for small businesses and maintaining statistics concerning the monthly volume of VOCs used.

Recordkeeping tools such as charts and spreadsheets were discussed and supplied at the seminars. Based on feedback and demand, another seminar may be offered in the fall.

Interlux and Awlgrip regional representative George Dunigan is also president of the Marine Trades Association of Maryland.For more information, visit www.yachtpaint.com and www.awlgrip.com.